Prospect Info: Quick 2020 Post-Lottery Mock

[Pitaya]

High end offense is not easy to get and those forwards you listed on the Devils at their current state are not at the same value as the ones in the top end of this draft. Needs fluctuate fast, both Palmieri and Gusev are UFAs next season so who knows how the team will look. The first round especially should be done irrespective of who’s on the NHL roster at the current moment. The only position I would pass up early on is goalie

We can still take a forward possibly at 11, 18, and next years pick(s) in the 1st round. Also we can acquire talent for those roles as well much easier than defense

We have two 1st overall centers but nobody except Smith as a 1st round D prospect. Sanderson/Drysdale gives us the best defense prospect weve had since a long long time ago, whereas the forward wed take at 7 wouldnt be the best or even 2nd best forward prospect weve had in the last three years

 

[StevenToddIves]

Enjoying the posts.

Just a quick comment on this one. I actually think it is great that he went through the season he did. One problem for high end athletes can be that they never face adversity since they are the best player when playing with their peers. Blackwood has commented on how much the adversity he faced in the minors and early last year has helped him get better.

Also he was sick at one point:

"Lucas, he had an illness before the world junior, leading into the world junior. He got healthy but he lost a lot of strength. He was good at the world junior, he wasn't great. Then obviously playing in Frölunda, a great program, he didn't have as much traction with the big team. There was this back and forth about does he play on the junior team and up and whatnot. Lucas Raymond is a really, really good player."

Getting to Know: Lucas Raymond

Do not forget Sean Couturier fell to #8 in 2011 due to a less than expected season due to having mono that year.

Agreed. I mean, I have Raymond ranked in my top 10 in a stacked 2020 draft class. I love his potential -- I think he can be a Gaudreau/Marner type. If the Devils decide to take him at #7, you're not hearing any complaints from me.

 

[R8Devs]

We can still take a forward possibly at 11, 18, and next years pick(s) in the 1st round. Also we can acquire talent for those roles as well much easier than defense

We have two 1st overall centers but nobody except Smith as a 1st round D prospect. Sanderson/Drysdale gives us the best defense prospect weve had since a long long time ago, whereas the forward wed take at 7 wouldnt be the best or even 2nd best forward prospect weve had in the last three years

You can take dman later too (using the same reasoning that you have and next year's draft is more dman heavy) . There is no reason to force a defenseman if they have a forward ranked higher. If a dman is the highest rated on their board at the time of pick - great but if they have Holtz/Rossi/etc. higher on their board and and they are available to pick they shouldn't pass them up because they are forwards.

It doesn't matter where the 2020 dman prospects rank against the Devils other dman prospects it matters how they rank against the other players on the Devils 2020 board (for the first round at least). Top end talent will always be more of a need than filling out positions. At the 2015 draft a lot of people on this board didn't want a dman because of how the Devils young defense/prospect pool looked compared to the young forwards and look how quickly that's changed.

 

[Pitaya]

You can take dman later too (using the same reasoning that you have and next year's draft is more dman heavy) . There is no reason to force a defenseman if they have a forward ranked higher. If a dman is the highest rated on their board at the time of pick - great but if they have Holtz/Rossi/etc. higher on their board and and they are available to pick they shouldn't pass them up because they are forwards.

It doesn't matter where the 2020 dman prospects rank against the Devils other dman prospects it matters how they rank against the other players on the Devils 2020 board (for the first round at least). Top end talent will always be more of a need than filling out positions. At the 2015 draft a lot of people on this board didn't want a dman because of how the Devils young defense/prospect pool looked compared to the young forwards and look how quickly that's changed.

Well that seems a bit obvious, right? Im not saying pick a dman no matter what - Im guessing they have Sanderson as part of that forward group in terms of value. Hes a USHL kid whos got size and high potential, all big pluses for Castron and Fitz even named those two wants as needs.

I said it earlier Im fine with one of those forwards as well but I see the reasoning more for a defenseman rather than another forward.

I also will say I admit a defense prospect isnt as fun lol

 

[R8Devs]

Well that seems a bit obvious, right? Im not saying pick a dman no matter what - Im guessing they have Sanderson as part of that forward group in terms of value. Hes a USHL kid whos got size and high potential, all big pluses for Castron and Fitz even named those two wants as needs.

I said it earlier Im fine with one of those forwards as well but I see the reasoning more for a defenseman rather than another forward.

I also will say I admit a defense prospect isnt as fun lol

Yeah I guess we're on the same page but you mentioning needs is where we diverge a bit, I feel like this early on in the draft it shouldn't be part of the equation (and honestly you could make a case for all the forwards and why they are needs for the Devils).

 

[Pitaya]

Yeah I guess we're on the same page but you mentioning needs is where we diverge a bit, I feel like this early on in the draft it shouldn't be part of the equation (and honestly you could make a case for all the forwards and why they are needs for the Devils).

When I say need Im talking when you have 2-3-4-5 players ranked 1a/1b or equal, then you can go based on need because these guys will jump in to the league in 1-2 years

And yes we need offense and defense but idt anyone will argue we need top-pair potential defenseman more than anything. We have two 1st overall soon to be elite centers but only Ty Smith as a 1st round talent on the backend

 

[R8Devs]

When I say need Im talking when you have 2-3-4-5 players ranked 1a/1b or equal, then you can go based on need because these guys will jump in to the league in 1-2 years

And yes we need offense and defense but idt anyone will argue we need top-pair potential defenseman more than anything. We have two 1st overall soon to be elite centers but only Ty Smith as a 1st round talent on the backend

yeah agreed on that front (need when all else equal) but this is something that will be impossible for fans to know because we don't get access to their lists. too bad the draft probably won't be till october so we probably won't get much news from insiders on that front either. but there's also the element of a forward being the 'safer' pick too as they are easier to project compared to other positions.

 

[nugg]

Well that seems a bit obvious, right? Im not saying pick a dman no matter what - Im guessing they have Sanderson as part of that forward group in terms of value. Hes a USHL kid whos got size and high potential, all big pluses for Castron and Fitz even named those two wants as needs.

I said it earlier Im fine with one of those forwards as well but I see the reasoning more for a defenseman rather than another forward.

I also will say I admit a defense prospect isnt as fun lol

Agreed. What I really want is Rossi, Quinn, and Lapierre. But I know that we need top end defenders. Drysdale and Quinn would be fine

 

[My3Sons]

Weve got names like Foote, Kuokkanen, Boqvist, and a slew of other guys who could end up 2nd line talents. Bratt is looking like he could peak as a high end 2nd line guy. Gusev and Palmieri are here for at least next season

A guy like Sanderson/Drysdale at pick 7 allows us to slot them into our top-4 in a year or two. Hell maybe Sanderson makes it straight up (lmfao, are defense is that bad though but I doubt it)

Offense is also easier to find in trades and UFA.

We gotta grab one of those two dmen at 7, especially when a guy like Quinn or some if the other forwards Steve named can be available at 11

If one of them is BPA or a tie for BPA and then the team chooses position as a tie breaker then it makes total sense. If the team thinks a forward is clearly the best player available I don't want them reaching. Notice I'm saying the team seeing the BPA not me not you not even STI. Guys who need to be right on this to eat have to be given a chance to earn their keep. Hopefully they are correct. I don't know anyone that is saying that they want a worse forward over a better defender.

 

[glenwo2]

All he does is catch touchdown passes!

The Cris Carter of Hockey.

 

[glenwo2]

We can still take a forward possibly at 11, 18, and next years pick(s) in the 1st round. Also we can acquire talent for those roles as well much easier than defense

We have two 1st overall centers but nobody except Smith as a 1st round D prospect. Sanderson/Drysdale gives us the best defense prospect weve had since a long long time ago, whereas the forward wed take at 7 wouldnt be the best or even 2nd best forward prospect weve had in the last three years

Will those two be available, though?

I don't think they will (though Drysdale has a better chance at dropping)

 

[Spoiled Bratt]

I dont think it is a good idea for a rookie to babysit Severson.

Severson needs a veteran along side him.

I wasn’t talking about next year, obviously.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Personally, I would take either Drysdale or Sanderson at #7, were they available

Me too.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

upcoming UFA LDs
View attachment 352045

I like Brendon Dillon out of that list. He has size which we need. He has played a top 4 role in San Jose alongside Brent Burns. And at age 29 he still in his prime.

 

[My3Sons]

I like Brendon Dillon out of that list. He has size which we need. He has played a top 4 role in San Jose alongside Brent Burns. And at age 29 he still in his prime.

None of those guys strike me as core guys and I’d be reluctant to get into bidding war to bog down the team cap for years by overpaying a player in decline. For a short contract an overpayment is fine but hard to see anyone really good leaving years on the table in their late 20s.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I like Brendon Dillon out of that list. He has size which we need. He has played a top 4 role in San Jose alongside Brent Burns. And at age 29 he still in his prime.

That's exactly what I thought when I saw that list. Great minds, I guess.

 

[StevenToddIves]

If one of them is BPA or a tie for BPA and then the team chooses position as a tie breaker then it makes total sense. If the team thinks a forward is clearly the best player available I don't want them reaching. Notice I'm saying the team seeing the BPA not me not you not even STI. Guys who need to be right on this to eat have to be given a chance to earn their keep. Hopefully they are correct. I don't know anyone that is saying that they want a worse forward over a better defender.

"Not even STI", haha. Couldn't agree with you more. If you're wondering how smart I think I am, my answer is "where did I leave my left shoe last night?"

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I would be fine with signing Dillon, Brodie, Edmundson or Hutton

obviously Pietrangelo too but thats a pipe dream

 

[My3Sons]

"Not even STI", haha. Couldn't agree with you more. If you're wondering how smart I think I am, my answer is "where did I leave my left shoe last night?"

I give you full credit for the gift you give all of us of your labor of love in assessing the prospects annually. You are honest and explain everything. There are so many pundits and scouting assessments available that it’s nice to see your thoughts which include frank disclosure of how others see the players including when they differ from you. I also agree with you that a team needs balance and that a new school defender can incorporate more traditional elements and be good. The trick is those guys seem a bit harder to find these days.

 

[glenwo2]

I give you full credit for the gift you give all of us of your labor of love in assessing the prospects annually. You are honest and explain everything. There are so many pundits and scouting assessments available that it’s nice to see your thoughts which include frank disclosure of how others see the players including when they differ from you. I also agree with you that a team needs balance and that a new school defender can incorporate more traditional elements and be good. The trick is those guys seem a bit harder to find these days.

I've been saying this non-stop (much to @StevenToddIves 's chagrin) but I view him as our resident NHL Insider.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I've been saying this non-stop (much to @StevenToddIves 's chagrin) but I view him as our resident NHL Insider.

If by "insider" you mean "spends too much freakin' time indoors due to this freakin' pandemic, then I will say yes, I am an insider.

 

[glenwo2]

If by "insider" you mean "spends too much freakin' time indoors due to this freakin' pandemic, then I will say yes, I am an insider.

But yeah....your thoughtful insights regarding the Draft, and NHL players in general are very informative and greatly appreciated here.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Isnt Perfetti’a skating an issue? People are saying hes a mediocre skater which, at his level, could mean hes just a flat out bad skater at the NHL level.

Obviously id like the guy with the better hockey sense though, and Perfetti wreaks of higher potential than Holtz for that reason alone

I’ll take Holts. Skating is so important these days. Their both snipers. I’ll take the better skater.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I’ll take Holts. Skating is so important these days. Their both snipers. I’ll take the better skater.

If that's your priority, you probably want Raymond over either of them. I'd say Raymond is the second-best skater in this draft after only Stutzle.

 

[TBF1972]

None of those guys strike me as core guys and I’d be reluctant to get into bidding war to bog down the team cap for years by overpaying a player in decline. For a short contract an overpayment is fine but hard to see anyone really good leaving years on the table in their late 20s.

I am not sure, the 2020 FA market is a sellers market. PA, Hall and Krug will get paid. Same for the good RFAs. But the secondary UFAs won't have multiple bidders uping the price tag. There is very little cap room in the league.